Sgt. Keith A. Coe, 30, died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an explosive device. He died in the city of Khalis in the eastern province of Diyala, north of Baghdad.

The family currently lives in Washington state, where Keith Coe was based.

Keith Coe enlisted in the Army in 2007 and reported to Fort Lewis in Washington state in March 2008, the News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash, reported.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. His unit deployed last August as part of the 3rd Brigade.

Friend Jason Hutchinson, of Fulton, N.Y., said Thursday night that Keith Coe was born in Fulton but moved to Auburndale with his family in about the 10th grade.

"He was a fun-loving, crazy guy. He'd do anything for anybody," Hutchinson said. "He was definitely a free spirit. He'd just enter a room and crack a joke and everybody would laugh."

The two grew up together in Fulton but grew apart after Keith Coe's move to Florida. The former close friends recently reunited on Facebook, right before Keith Coe was deployed.

Keith Coe was to return to the United States in January, according to Hutchinson.

Hutchinson created a Facebook page in honor of Keith Coe on Wednesday after learning of his death. By Thursday night, the group had collected more than 600 members.

"He loved his job," Hutchinson said. "People who don't even know him are sharing their condolences. Sharing similar experiences they've had with people they've lost."